Teaching and
Learning ASL: No
Voice Environment

If you wanted to become a professional swimmer, it would make sense
to spend as much time as possible in the water.
If you were only around a swimming pool a few hours per week, it
would be smart to make the best use of your time at the swimming
pool by diving in and swimming as much as possible while you have
the chance.

If you want to learn ASL and interact with Deaf people and are only
in an ASL classroom a few hours per week it also makes sense to dive
in and "swim around" as much as possible. By that I mean, turn
off your voice and lift up your hands and get signing -- before,
during, and after class.

There is another aspect to turning off your voice in the ASL
classroom and that is: "respect."
When around Deaf people it is proper for sign language students to
turn off their voices and sign.
ASL majors especially need to get in the habit of choosing to sign
rather than voice.

Getting students to turn off their voices seems to be a constant
challenge for ASL instructors.
I myself have tried all the
normal coercion methods: threats, throwing objects, etc.
Of all the various methods, I've been getting good results with humor and
propaganda.

prop·a·gan·da (prŏp'ə-gān'də)
noun

The systematic propagation of a
doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views
and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or
cause.

I find that small, quick,
daily reminders do wonders for getting students to turn off their
voices. I tend to post propaganda in my classes and or on my
overheads.

“Signing is to a rainbow
as
Voicing is to black and white.”

You have to be VERY careful in high school and
youth classes regarding "what" you put in your propaganda.

I don't recommend you use
such strong propaganda unless you have a VERY good relationship with
your students and they will understand from such a post that you are
not trying to offend them, but rather to help them understand that
this is an important topic.
Instead you can use simple, subtle propaganda such as:

Voicing :(
Signing :)

Or try playing superstition
combined with innuendo:

Delight went
to ASL class and turned off her voice and was blessed with
good luck. She won the lottery, met the man of her
dreams, and found the perfect job!

Dick
used
his voice in his ASL class and was cursed with
bad
luck. His girlfriend left him, he lost his job, and
his dog died.